Latch mechanism



u8 4, 1953 H. G. KNUTH 2,647,780

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 AUS" 4; 1953 H. G. KNUTH 2,647,780

LATCH MEcHANrsM Filed Dec. 15. 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 1 LATCH MECHANISM Harvey r(in:Knutln4 Elgin, I'll assieno r to, Lyon Metal "Productsrlncorporatcd, Aurora, Ill., a l corporation ot Illinois Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,263

This invention relates to door latchfmecha `nisms ofthe push type.

Among the "object-s ot'the' present-,'invention isy vto providea door latch .fabricated and applied as a unit, separately and independently of its t lreepenlto' the doory .lamb or door walL without the usualllning up ot parts with the door wall.`

f .Another object-of the invention is' to provide a door:haringi :spaced irontfand rear walls; the front lwall `being provided ywith -anvopeningcr and the rear wall being provided; With angopening. In addition there, iis vvan a ornamental support, to.- getheri .with means for mounting the same at the front 1 .Wall and-:preferably by :means v passing through the rear wall for engaging thereariface oi` said support whereby-.so togmount it, theV ornamental support? having an opening in {iter-front face dni :which is. mounted a` shiftable latch actuator,v preferably a ,push` plate; .which in thesmore specific-aspectsor the invention forms-a substantially :continuous :front wall for the ornamental supportlwhile at the same Stime' heingishiftable relatively theretoV by. arpush inwardly; on .the'front walllof this support; f, mounted:l .upon and married by". this .vornamentalrsupport :and extending inwardly-into thespacefbetween thezzfront and rear walls is 'a shiftabl'e latch member, the inner portion of; which lies` adjacent thesopenins in the rear -wall of thefl doorwherehyzto ynormal-ly engagea'keeper which-is adaptedto proj.eotpiefcr ably normally to the plane of thedoor` into said opening-:when the; doorr iisr closed to tie-engaged by the latch,' andf-in addition the .latch `ieposi tioned` on the :ornamental plate in such a man.- ner-:that upon Ainward pushing movement: on the latch actuator-orpush-plate the latchis actuated to'b'e released -from the'keeperwhereby thefdoor Willbeopened.

' 1Ar1otl1t r= object of the y' invention is 'to' provide a latch meohanismlfor a'doorwherein the mech-a.. nism includes Aa-"latch,plate adapted to' be fastened tothe'iront-wallof thefdoor, the plate including a bracketrigidlymountedfthereon and a'shiftable canfnshaped latch shiftably and preferably pivotallyy mounted': on therbracket, tlualatchv plate inE eluding ai shiitably 4"mounted actuator `connected by means of a link to the cam latch-soithatrupon operative ymovement; of the :actuator i, relative to the latch plate, the.l cam latch is-positively shifted tozactuate the latch'reiativelyto; its'keeper which is independently mountedf upon'` the stationary doorjambor door: frame, the cam heingfformed whereby progressively4 and 'vwedgincly :toizengage with the keeper: to. cause the doorto close upon the .frame or.v jamh'v so :that/:irrespective of 1 Wear 1 0V Claims., (Cl. 292m224) upon. the keeper or any other contactingpart, the

door will always be closed to a tight position with.- out need of any adjustmentof take-up.

Still another object is to provideia latch'for a door vcomprising a plate attached to the front of the'door which plate isrecessed to 'receive a hinged, push plate projecting outwardly from the front of the latch plate on the door andto the rear of which push plate is fastened avlink; or connector',l the innerendaof which lies housed Within, the recessed plate and theiouter end of which is adapted to engage a shiftablo cam latch which is shiftably mounted on a brackctiriedly mounted on the inner'face of the latch plate, there being resilient means associated `hetvveen the @am latch and the link actuator or connector whereby the camlatch is normallymovedinto keeper projecting position, and ywherebyl con! versely thefpush plate is yrrmved to outward posttion where it can be pushed by the operator for releasing the latch, theweam of the camlatch boing designed so that it engages the keeper with a progressively Wedging action sothatirrespective of the wear on the latchor the keeperor any other part .of the mechanism, the latch will alwaystightly engage the keeper thereby elimihating the necessity oftake-up adjustments.

Another object rof the invention istotprovide, in combination with a latch of the foregoing characteristics,4 a ,door 'having an opening sufficiently large to receive the bracket and cam latch members `thereof and provided. with. additional spacedopenings to receive fastening means 'passing through said spaced openings into the latch to Aassemble it as a unit to the door with the ac tuating mechanism disposed Within the plane of the inner wall of the door, the latch .having an actuator disposed Wholly without the outer wall of the door, plus an actuating mechanism-interconnecting the actuator and the latch tocause its operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a latch and keeper mechanism f or a cabinet or shelving construction j and its door wherein the door is provided with spaced registering openings through the front and rear walls thereof, one of which 'registering openings is of suilicient size so thata keeper `may -be 4mounted upon the stationary part of the cabinet or shelving in such position substantially to lineup with said opening in the door when the `door is in closed `position and wherein the latch mechamism itself includes a support adapted to'be fas .tened upon the front/Wall ofv the vdoor `loyfasten-F me means `which passthrough .other spaced openings of the door and its rear wall member and wherein the latch itself carries a shiftable latch mechanism which shiftably passes through the relatively larger opening in the front wall of the door in position to engage with and shiftably to disengage from the keeper, the mechanism being constructed and arranged so that exact lining up of the keeper and the latch mechanism on the door are not essential, and whereby the latch as a unit may be mounted from the door and repaired, or a substitute latch mechanism again mounted on the door as a unit to cooperate with the keeper.

Another object of the invention is to providel and wherein the keeper engaging latch mechanism is adapted to pass through a sufliciently large opening in the front wall of the door to engage with and disengage from a keeper which projects through a sufficiently large registering opening in the rear panel of the door by means of Vwhich construction the combined latch and handle mechanism may be directly mounted upon the front wall of the door by predeterminedly spaced openings formed in the door and its door panel without the necessity of exact lining upoperations and whereby the handle and latch mechanism may be removed from the door as a unit.

Another vobject of the invention is to provide an improved handle and latch mechanism including a push type of latch operator forming a part of the handle and preferably having its outer wall fiush and substantially streamlined with respect to the outer wall of the handle but capable of operation for actuating the latch while at the same time not interfering with the proper use of the handle for fully opening the door.

Another object is to provide a novel type of handle recessed to receive a pivoted latch operating plate, which when assembled to the handle forms a portion thereof but which may be operated independently of the handle to shift the latch and which handle likewise houses the shiftable keeper engaging member or latch and spring means for normally maintaining the latch in desired keeper engaging position.

Another object is to provide proper mounting means for the combined handle and latch which will prevent the collapsing of the rear wall or panel of the door when the handle and latch are mounted upon the front face of the door whereby to preclude the proper engagement of the latch with the keeper and whereby to preclude the misalignment of the latch and keeper on the door and the stationary part upon which the keeper is mounted, and which stationary part is to be closed by the door.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:v

Figure 1 is a front view of any type of cabinet 4 provided with a pair of the latch mechanisms of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figuref3;'` Y 1 V 1 Figure 5 `is a view similar to Figure 4, taken in a dierent position;

lFigure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts comprising the latch;

Figure 7 is a front view of the preferred form of my invention illustrating the latch formed as apart of the door'fhandle;

Figure 8 is 'a'sectional view taken on the line 3-8 v0f FigureL 7;

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8, but showing the unlatching position thereof;

Figure l0 is a View taken on the line I-I of Figure '7; y

Figure l1 is a perspective View showing the various parts of the latch mechanism; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the parts of thekeeper.

Referring nowv to the drawings in detail, and particularly to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, this :form of the invention is applicable to any type of cabinet. I have shown it applied to the door of a cabinet comprising an outer door wall 2 having an inner door liner or housing member 4 forming a space 6 for receiving the operating mechanism of the latch. TheA outer Wall 2 of the door is provided with any type of opening shown at 8 in Figure 4. In addition, the door is provided with one or more additional openings I0 and I2 andthe 1iner'4 is provided with corresponding registering openings I4 and IB. The liner 4 is provided with a flange I8 which underlies and engages a corresponding flange 20 on the door wall 2.v These flanges rare preferably welded together as shown at 22 in Figure 2. The liner 4 is .likewise provided with another-opening 24 to receive a keeper 26 having a flange 28 provided with an opening adapted to receive a fastening screw 30 which passes through a registering opening in a wall 32'of the stationary door jamb 34. The'keeper 26 is provided with a keeper opening 36 which is adapted Yto engage the latch hereinafter described. The latch itself comprises an ornamental stamp or die cast support 40 having fastener openings 42 and 44 adapted to receive the bolts or screws 46 and 48 which are passed through the aligned openings I2 and I6v and I0 and I4, as shown in Figure 3, whereby the ornamental support 40 is held in precise position on the front wall of the door by means of the fastening members 46 and 48 which are passed into position through these openings from the rear wall 4 of the door and threadedly engage the openings 42 and 44 in the plate. The hole or opening 8 formed in the door is shown clearly in Figure 3. It is of sufficient size so that the operating mechanism of the latch which is mounted upon the inner'or rear face of the support 40 will be passed through this opening 8 and housed within the space 6 located between the front and rear walls 2 and 4 of the door respectively. Thus by the simple operation 'of passing the operating mechanism, hereinafter described, of the support 40 through the opening and then lining up the openings I0, I4, I2 and I6 in the front and rear'walls 2 andf4 of the door, passing the screws-46 and' 48 :from the rear Lof vthe door: through-v first the wall 4, thence through 'the wall'B and 'into the. openings l 42 anddd of the :ornamental support: 40: and :turn-ing the screwsfinto position', the latchlis assembled or mountedl upon thelzfrontfwall of the ldoor without any `further lining up operations and .without removing therear wally 4' yoricutting any relatively-largeI hole inthe; door.

TheA v.ornamental support'platenuwis provided witha fair1y1goodsized-recessll vtherein and which.` recess in front .merges vinto 5a relatively elongated countersunk portion 52`-in .which is mounted thefelong'atedrpush plate 54. The push plate has a rearwardlyv extending lug 56 providing openings 58v to a-pivoted' pinl59 received in I the opposed wall portions of Ithe-ornanfiental support 40 so that the'` push plate is pivotally lhinged to'the-ornamentalsupport 4|) andy rests'in the countersunk seat 52 with the outerv streamlined or smooth-walled portion of the pushplate '54 projecting outwardly 'of the recessed portion `52. The vinnerr face of the push plate is provided with an elongated,recess 60 in whichis supported vor retained the inner end '62 of a link or arm 64. The outer' end i of` this arm' is 'proVidedf-with' a notch 66 and a projecting tongue whichytongue -is adapted to engage inanaperturel formed ina cam latch plate-*l2provided with an opening 14 in which is rigidly mounted a pin )16 the ends of which are pivotally mounted in bearings "78 andvB-of a bracket 82:2 This bracket 82 vhas a bridge-base 34 which is welded at 86 to the Vinner wall of the inner-tace' of the ornamentalv support 40. The bracket `|52 isprovided -with the laterally extending lugs "88' and 9|)r Vforming.` guideways in which the link 64 vis adapted to move'.` The link 64y passes through and rshiftsn aslot v92 formed in the innerwall of the-ornamental Asupport 40. This slot -92 merges into and 'forms apart of the recess 50. In addition, the`outer-"wall of the vslot 5|):` an the-outerwall `of the ornamental support-40 are provided with anpverhanging portion B2,- see Figures 3 and 6, which is adapted to engagewith a projecting lug: ortoe :94 on the pushzplate v54 to limit the youtermost position of thepushplate. `Around the pirr'fll` is coiled las-atI aspring having two legs 98 and |00, the leg =98 having an angularly disposed toe |02 'which 'engagesbehind the'stationary bracket '182; and thewopposite leg IQDlof the lspring engaging Ito they rearilof the lug |58l of the latch actuating: link or connector 64, whereby thel spring serves not onlyto-urge the pushf plate 5lnorma1lyto `outward*position as shownJinfFigure-B, but llikewise urges the .latch member :l2 :to the: position shown ini Figure. 4. The cam. latch `l2-ris withdrawn .to the position shownl in Figure 5 Vby-i pushing inwardly .on the push plate 54 against the tensionv of thespring T6 .soithat the .push plate .54 will-be*v moved inwardly of itstsocket-or seat 52-.withyrespect to the. ornamental support 4G." Hence the cam latch 'l2 will beiwithdrawnto the positiony shown in Figure 5 and will disengage..from the latch-engaging locking wall M36 of thekeeperopening 36. Particular attention is drawn to the cam surface |08 of the cam latch l2. Thistcambsurface isxdesignedso that; asfshown: in Figurei, as the cammoves downwardly into thevkeeper opening 36 :it will. ,wedgingly' move thedoor tighter and tighter into engagementcwith the: doorjamb or shelf portion-.34 .of the cabinet.. This shelf portion. `34 carries. the keeper s28fas ,hereinafter 'explained.` i Hence itwill beseen that `inclelriendently ofi whether thisrcamffface |08# becomes wo-rn lor `the latch; wall |05 ibecornesworn, o'rrwhether any other-lof the l stationary parts Jof the' cabinet against.l which thedoor is adapted to :abut becomes worn, the latchfv will yalways engage the keeper `.wall in :a tightl manner without the need .of take-upadjustments. I .Thusit will :be-seen that `the springzpressure `operating 1upon` the I cam' flatchf-IZ ftendsto draw the door il` to avtighter :closed position relatively tothe keeper? wall |081. The shelffl'o'r the keeper is generally provided vwith .a rubber bumper. 'perhaps one sixteenth :of an inch in 'thicknessybut frequently this bumper `wears or becomes ==naccurate fromy other causesr." However, 4irrespective of the rwear Yorl inaccuracies; in any positionzzthe latch; when latched, tends -to force the' door properly closed. v

.Acspringy not shown;- serves to push the-door to: openposition when unlatched. Itis also ap parent that the ornamental .support-140, instead ofzbeing configured asshown in thedrawingymay be. formed as a handle-properly recessedfftb re'- ceive thef .hinged4v ori 'shiftably :mounted latch operatingfmember 54.' In the form of `the invention shown lin Figures f7 t-o y12 inclusive,- the ornamental support on which the push plate for actuating the latch is mounted 4isformedf'asa handle which vhouses a latchwmechanism; `Morespecifically, the orna mental a support is formedl asa handle vbody `|28 whichfas shown is 4preferably foffstreamlined formation having a longitudinallycurved-.outer wall l22 which outer `'wall is provided withl a iront slot slightly narrower than the width of the outer wall? and as shown in'Figure `'1: starts at the line |24 and extends to the: other end of the'slotin the handle at |25. i This slotconi'- municates by means of "an opening |28` withwa housing |30 fformed in the hollow leg |32`i0f the handle `body. Fitting into thiszrecess y:formed in the handle is a latch actuator or push plate or outer handle portion |34 which in its outer surface, as shown at |363` iniFiguresfHiand :8,ffforms azcontinuation `of the outer streamlinedfwall |22 of .theihandlewhen the depressiblehandle portion |34 -is .inA outermost position;` which;A is its normal position. It :thusmayi be" said lthat the depressible actuator orwpush plateu|3ll sixto all appearances apart ofthe handle member.` c The underside of i this shiftable latchactuator |34 is providedwith alaterally projecting toe itil-which.' isxnarrower than the remainder of this portion and is also provided with a platelikelprojection Hill-'that extends. in a planetransversely to the plane-.of the bottom plate-like portion Ulof` this'partof thelatch actuator.-f-;-This plate-like projection itl! is formed'with pa .shou1- der M4; and isalso'provided .withan arcuate extension M'Sfhaving an .elongated slotlt. In thea-fassembly fof the f latch .actuator |34 it is` placed asshown in :Figures 8l and/:gasolthat the toe `|33 engages under ,a ledge .llzforme'dfin the entixof thewall portion |22. of the' handle. In

fact thehandlex-portion of; this partis provided with asl'ot |.52,-as vshown Figure 11,1into which this toe |33, projectsiso Ithat the slot and toe. form a iulcrumabout which the member [3tmay shift with respect to lthe handle lmn this assem'I hled position the vplate-like member lflll will pro" ject into .the chamber :|38 .of the hollow leg `member 32. ci the handle.; This partici thethand-le is .provided with. regsteringeopenings "|54 through which., a pin .|1528 Iis `adapted topass, the pinbeing rivetedon itsends wherebypermanently to pass the -pin through the .slotted opening |43:y of;- the projection |46. In addition there is a keeper engaging latch of the latch mechanism which is constructed preferably as shown in Figure 11, and comprises a substantially L-shaped, preferably sheetl metal latch |58 the longer leg |60 of which is provided with a slot |62 and with a longitudinally extending, laterally bent cam surface |64, The cam surface |64 is adapted to contact the curved dome-shaped outer surface 4206 of the keeper and deflect the latch |62 laterally into the position shown in Figure 8 as the door approaches closing position. In addition the opposite or shorter leg |66 is provided on its end with laterally disposed spaced ears |68 perforated as at |10 to receive the pin |56 hereinbefore described so that the pin |56 passing through the two sides of the hollow leg |32 of the handle pivotally mounts the L-shaped latch member within the hollow handle, the short leg |66, as shown in Figure 10, passing outwardly through the rear opening |30 in the leg |32 and the longer leg |60 thereof lying at right angles thereto in position to engage the keeper hereinafter set forth, as shown in Figure 10.

In addition, the front wall of the handle or ornamental support as at |12 and an intermediate portion |14 of the handle are provided with means whereby the handle may be secured to the door. In the form illustrated I have shown the handle provided with integrally projecting, elongated studs |16 and |18 which are of exact length to project through the registering openings |13 and |15 in the front and rear walls of the door |90 and |92 respectively. These studs |16 and |18 are preferably bored and threaded as at |80 and |82 to receive elongated screws |84 and |86 which pass through registering openings in the rear panel |92 of the door. A plate |94 provided with openings |96 and |98 and a larger opening 200 is adapted to fit over the studs |16 and |18 to close the hollow leg |30 of the handle, the opening 200 registering with this hollow chamber in the leg through which the latchmember |66 passes. This plate |94, when the handle mechanism is mounted on the door, is conned between the handle and the front wall |90 of the door.

A coil spring having the free legs 202 and 204 has its'coiled portion placed around the pin |56 so that the leg 202 engages the inner wall of the leg portion |30 while the opposite leg 204 engages the side |66 of the keeper engaging latch whereby normally to force the keeper engaging latch to the right as shown in Figure 8, so that when the door is closed uponl the keeper hereinafter described, the latch will automatically engage the keeper.

'The keeper is preferably of the construction shown in Figure 12. It comprises preferably a one-piece member including a rounded, substantially mushroom-shaped head 206 having on its underside a face which is inclined from the outer rim B of the head toward a central circular pedestal 2|0. This pedestal extends generally at right angles to the head and terminates in a hexagonal or angularly disposed wall portion 2|2 used for turning the keeper and a threaded end 2|4 of preferably smaller diameter. A nut 2|6 is threaded to engage the thread 2|4 whereby to clamp the keeper on the vertical front wall iiange 2|8 of a shelf 220 or other stationary part of the cabinet, shelving, or other member to be closed by the door. The keeper is adapted to project through an opening 222 in the rear panel |92 of the door, said opening 222 registering with 'the opening 200 formed in the plate |94 `of the handle mounting. These openings 222 and 200 are of sufficient size to give the necessary lateral play to the leg |66 of the keeper engaging latch when the depressible member |36 .of the handle portion is pushed inwardly. By forming the undersurface of the mushroom-shaped head 206 with an inclined wall the edge of the slot |62 in the keeper engaging latch may have considerable latitude in engaging the undersurface of the latch in a locking position andA furthermore by reason of the size of these openings 222 and 200 it will be understood that it is a simple matter to assemble the combined handle and latch on the front wall of the door since all that is necessary is to preform the openings |13 and |15 in the front and rear walls of the door. The keeper engaging latch will then pass through the corresponding opening 200 in the latch plate into the opening between the front and rear walls and |92 of the door, and since the opening 222 is suiiiciently large, considerable latitude is provided for placing vthe keeper upon the stationary wall of the shelving while'not interfering with the correct engagement of the latch in its keeper, and thus an exact lining up of the latch mechanism on the door is eliminated. It will also be recognized that by means of this construction the combined handle and latch mechanism may be installed asa unit on the door and quickly lined up with the keeper on the stationary part of the shelving, for immediate operation. It will be noted from Figure 8 that the line of action between the latch engaging surface of the keeper is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ring 208 of head 206 which is engaged bythe latch. More specifically, the line interconnecting the point of pivot of the latch and the point of contact between the latch and the keeper is substantially perpendicular to the latch engaging surface 208 of the keeper. This structure necessitates a positive actuation of push plate |38 before the door can be opened.

v By forming the shiftable operating mechanism for` the operating latch as a part of the ornamental support or handle I am-enabled to provide a very conveniently operable device which permits a person to both open the door and pull the door to complete open position by one position of the handle and by a squeezing and pulling operation, and I am also enabled to properly streamline the handle in this manner by forming the vpush part of the latch as a part of the handle, the actuating mechanism of which passes through a hollow portion of the handle rearwardly into the wall of the door to engage the keeper likewise projecting through a spacious opening in the rear wall of the door.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction disclosed herein but is capable of other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new-and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined handle and latch comprising an elongated arched handle portion, one end of the arched portion forming a leg with a chamber, the front wall of the arched portion being recessed and communicating with the chamber of the leg, said arched handle having a relatively shiftable latch actuator fitting into said-recess, the outer wall of said relatively shiftable actuator forming acontinuation offthe outer wall of the arched pcrtlonlxof-.the handle,` said relatively shiftable actuator. having a ylateral extension .pass-ing into the chamber in the leg of: the handle, and means on said .handle and on said relatively :shiftable 'actuator .forming a .fulcrum about which the relatively shiftablevactuator .may pivot, a keeperengagingllatch :shiitablyf `mounted inv saidl chamber of :said leg andprojecting rearwardlyoutf wardlybfrom. v.said v-leg chamber `and vhaving a keeper-engaging member thereon,A said llatch havingy apart .engagcable bysaid-relatively ishiitablel latch actuator; means normally tending. to urge the latch into engagement withthe keeper., spring meansin the chamber `or .the-leg ferner*` mally urging said relatively shiftable yactuator ouwvardly'so that the outer.wallissubstantiallv lush withftheouter `wall -of Vthe handle whereby saiddepressible portion andhandle formlsubstantiallycontinuous :outer surfaces `for the handie, saidhandle having spaced vmeans whereby it maybeattachedtoa door. z j v 2. .Incombination with a cabinet door having spaced front and `near walls, said front wall hav ing an opening, said .rearwallxhaving an opening to permit entry of ay keepertherein, `a .handle comprising achainbered body portion having an arched streamlined extension, said vbody portion and extension each having aV rearwardly. entending post, said posts being Ispaced apart i and adapted topassthrough holes inthe front `wall ofthe door.,` the` front: face of lsaid chambered body and saidsarched'extensicnhaving a' recess coinmunicating with lthe chamber of: said body, a latch actuator shiitably mounted vin said recess, a latch; mounted in saidffchamberedu body portion and operatively connected to the latch actuator, saidflatch projectingrearwardly from sai'd'chambered body portion, said door having its iront wall opening suiliclentlylargeso thatthe latch may be passed through said opening in the front wall of :the cloorwleaving Qthe outer-'portion of the handle audits streamlined extensionon the exterior facefo the front wall ofthe door, and fastening means ypassing through openings. in the rear Wall of. the door andzengaging said posts whereby rigidly to mountsaid.K handle on the rear wall of the door with the latch projecting rear,- wardly through said openingin the front wall of the door inposition .to 'engage the keeper when projecting through the opening in the rear wall of 'thedoorwherebysarid latch is operable by the actuatormounted -on the handle located at the front face of the door.

3. In', `combination with av door comprising spaced `front and rearwalls having therethrough spacedregisteringnelatively small, openings and relatively larger substantially registering openings, ya combined handle and latch mechanism comprising 'an elongated handle, 'fastening means registering with said smallerl openings andpassing therethrough from the rear vvvall of the door to securesaid handle on the iront Wall of the door, said elongated handle having an internal chamber and vhaving an opening in its outer wall a relatively shiftable portion"t'lisposedv ywithtits front face Iforming a 'substantial' continuation of {theouter front Wall ofthe handle; said. shiftable portionhaving a rear extension projecting into said handle chamber, a latch shiftably mounted in said chamber and shiftable by movement of said shiftable handle portion, said latch projecting rearwardly from said handle chamber through the relatively larger opening in the front Wall of the door and into the space between said front and` rear vwalls of said door, said latch having. within said space ya keeper-engaging por tion toengage a keeper projecting .into said space throughsaid substantially registering relatively largeropening in the rear `wall of the door, y'and means in said chamber k'for urgingsaid latch to keepenengaging position. l l

4. In combination, la door having front and rearspaced walls, Vsaid rear wall having an opening to permit akeeper to project substantially at right .angles to the closed door and into the space between the iront and rear walls of the door whensthe door is closed, said front and rear walls of` said door having additional registering openings, vand an elongated arch-shaped handle Ahaving spacedl portions terminating rearwardly in a substantially common plane, said handle being mounted on the door with said spaced portions-abuttingthe lfront Wall of said door, fastening means insertable from the rearwall of said door through certain of the registering openings and engaging saidhandle whereby to mount said handle on said door, the front wallof said archshaped handle having an elongated recess, one ci saidA spaced portions of the handle being hollow andl opening rearwardly., said recess communie eating with said hollow portion, an arch-shaped latch actuator lying in said recess and pivotally engaging with y.said arch-shaped handle, said actuator having an extension projecting into the hollow portion of said handle, a latch disposed in the hollow/'portion of -said handle, means for pivotally mounting said latch on said handle, spring means in said hollow portion of the handle for urging said arch-shaped actuator outwardly so that its outer wall forms a substantially smooth continuation l of the outer Wall of said archshaped handle, `the inner portion of saidlatch yprojecting. rearwardly out of the hollow portion ofthe handle andthrough a relatively larger opening in the front Wall of the door into the space between said front and rear walls of the door and having a V'keeper-engaging portion therein normally` disposed to engage the keeper projecting into the space betweenthe walls ofthe door when the door isclosed.

5. In combination with a vdoor having spaced fro-nt and rear walls, Vsaid front Wall having an opening and said rear wall havingan opening to permit entry of `a `keeper thereinto when the door moves to closed position, an ornamental support and means for` mounting the support at the front wall of the door, said ornamental support havingl an;y opening in its front face, a latch actuator shiftably mounted in the opening of said support, a latch, means carried by the support for operatively positioning the latch adjacent the latch actuator and for positioning the inner end of the latch adjacent the opening in the .rear wall of the doorthroughwhich the keeper projects when the door is moved to closed position, said opening in the front wall of the door being sufiicientlylarg-e so thatwhen the ornamentalsupport is removed from the door the latch mounted thereon may pass-through the opening in the front Wall `of said door, fastener means passing through open*- ings in the `rear wallof the door and engaging the` rear wall of said ornamental support to mount said-ornamental support rigidly on the front ofthe door with the latch carried by 'said ornamental support projecting through the opening in the front wall of the door into the space between said front and rear walls of the door.

6. In combination with a door having a front wall and a spaced rear wall providing an enclosing housing, an ornamental latch actuator support having an opening in its front face and having an interior recess registering with said front opening, the recess of said support registering with an opening in the rear Wall of said support, -a latch actuator push plate shiftably mounted in the recess in the front wall of said support, said front and rear walls of the door having aligned fastener openings and the rear wall of the ornamental latch actuator supporting plate having cooperative fastening means aligning with said fastener openings in the walls of the door, and complemental fastening means passing through Athe rear wall of the door and thence through the front wall of the door and engaging the cooperative fastening means of the latch actuator support whereby to hold the latch actuator support -rigidly in position on the front wall of said door with the rear opening of said latch actuator support registering with the opening in the front wall of the door, and means for operativelyl mounting the latch on said latch actuator support with a portion of the latch positioned adjacent the latch actuator on said support and with another portion of the latch positioned adjacent the opening in the rear wall of the door to be engaged by a keeper when the door is moved to closed position.

7. In combination with a door having spaced front and rear walls, an ornamental support, means for mounting said support at the front wall of said door, said support having on its front Wall an opening, a push plate shiftably mounted in said opening, said ornamental support having an interior recess communicating with the rear wall of said support, the front Wall of said door having a relatively large opening communicating with said recess and the opening in the rear wall of said support, means for operatively supporting a latch -on said ornamental support with one portion of said latch positioned adjacent the shiftable push plate and another portion of said latch positioned adjacent an opening in the rear wall of said door and adjacent a keeper adapted to project through the rear wall of said door when said door is moved to closed position, means for normally urging said push plate outwardly, and means for normally urging said latch toward the opening in the rear wall of said door.

8. A combined handle and latch comprising an elongated arched handle portion, one end of the arched portion forming a leg with a chamber, the front Wall of the arched portion being recessed and communicating with the chamber of the leg, said arched handle having a relatively shiftable latch actuator fitting into said recess, the outer wall of said relatively shiftable actuator forming a continuation of the outer wall of the arched portion of the handle, said relatively shiftable actuator having. a lateral extension passing into the chamber in the leg of the handle, and means on said handle and on said relatively shiftable actuator forming a fulcrum about which the relatively shiftable actuator may pivot, a keeper engaging latch shiftably mounted in said chamber of said leg and projecting rearwardly out- Wardly from said leg chamber and having a keeper-engaging member thereon, said latch having a part engaged by said relatively shiftable latch actuator, means normally tending to urge the latch into engagement with the keeper, spring means in the chamber of the leg fornormally urging said relatively shiftable actuator outwardly so that the outer Wall is substantially flush with the outer wall of the handle whereby said depressible portion and handle form substantially continuous outer surfaces for the handle.

9. In combination with a cabinet door having spaced front and rear walls, said front wall having an opening, said rear wall having an opening to permit entry of a keeper therein, a handle comprising a chambered body portion having an arched streamlined extension, the front face of said chambered body and said arched extension having a recess communicating with the chamber of said body, a latch actuator shiftably mounted in said recess, a latch mounted in said chambered body portion and operatively connected to the latch actuator, said latch projecting rearwardly from said chambered body portion, said door having its front wall opening suffciently large so that the latch may be passed through said opening in the front wall of the door leaving the outer portion of the handle and its streamlined extension on the exterior face of the front wall of the door, and fastening means to mount said handle on the door with the latch projecting rearwardly through said opening in the front wall of the door in position to engage the keeper when projecting through the opening in the rear wall of the door whereby said latch is operable by the actuator mounted on the handle located at .the front face of the door.

10. An elongated, arch shaped handle having opposite ends providing two spaced legs, one of said legs providing a chamber, the intermediate portion of said handle having a recess therein, an actuator positioned in said recess and having a portion extending into one end of said charnber, said portion having a slot therein, a shaft passing through said slot and attached to said handle to shiftably mount said actuator on said handle, a latch member positioned in said charnber and pivoted on said shaft, a keeper engaging portion formed on said latch member and extending from the other end of said chamber and away from said actuator, and means urging said latch member against said actuator and into keeper engaging position.

HARVEY G. KNUTH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 349,671 Swartzwelder Sept. 21, 1886 767,567 Keil Aug. 16, 1904 1,059,952 Spooner Apr. 22, 1913 1,563,489 Hooppaw et al. Dec. 1, 1925 1,789,083 Reed Jan. 13, 1931 1,925,308 De Voe Sept. 5, 1933 1,929,775 De Voe Oct. 10, 1933 1,954,500 Sparks Apr, 10, 1934 2,010,492 Karre Aug. 6, 1935 2,188,139 Raymond Jan. 23, 1940 2,265,691 Hogg Dec. 9, 1941 2,304,145 Borchers Dec. 8, 1942 2,309,507 Hogg Jan. 26, 1943 2,342,831 Borchers Feb. 29, 1944 

